PLATTSMOUTH (SNR) - Despite the challenges faced by schools around the world to continue daily activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, schools in the Diocese of Lincoln have prioritized Masses and liturgies.
St. John the Baptist Elementary School in Plattsmouth found a safe and comfortable way to still celebrate daily Mass for students and parishioners in the school gymnasium.
Students are socially distanced, each sitting on a sticker that has been placed on the school gym floor for the children. The celebrating priest —Father Michael Houlihan or Father Valerian Bartek—uses a table on stage as an altar, and at Communion, the priest walks to each student to distribute the Eucharist.
Teachers and parishioners are seated on chairs toward the back of the gym, which are wiped down and cleaned after each Mass. Everyone is masked during each Mass.
Students still lead the readings at Mass by using a microphone, reading from the front of the stage. A projector and screen are used to post the words to responsorial songs and music so that students are engaged during Mass.
